Chào buổi sáng Việt Nam!
Good Morning Vietnam!
We didn’t arrive into Ho Chi Minh City until lunchtime which is unusual because many ports we arrive at 6 am. This port was a bit different. At around 6 am we arrived to the boarder of Vietnam. We then spent 4 hours making our way up an absolutely amazing river surrounded by large mangroves and lots of really cool scenery. I woke up around 7 to eat breakfast and take in all the beauty. As we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City it was a very different experience from Japan. In Kobe, there was a large port terminal and they welcomed us in with a live band. Vietnam on the other hand, was just a dock with some tents that Semester at Sea set up for our checks as we got back onto the ship.
Although I only spent one day in Ho Chi Minh City I had the best day ever and I hope you stick around to find out some of the amazing things I did.
First, we went to the post office so I could send a package (which sadly they wouldn’t let me send). This is no ordinary post office. The post office is located in the most gorgeous yellow building with some amazing architecture. This is also a good place to check out some souvenirs. There are shops on both ends of the station as well as some small stands in the center. I found some really cute little gifts here.
Next, we headed to Tan Dinh Church. This is the famous pink church in Vietnam. Sadly when we were there it was closed so we had to just see it from the outside which was well worth it!
From here, we stopped at the Ben Thanh Market. This market is very large and will take you a while to walk around. There are so many vendors selling anything you could want. From fake Louis Vuitton to fake Rolex to elephant pants. This is the place to be if you want to stock up on cheap fake designer and souvenirs. It is also a great place to test out your bargaining skills. Never pay the price that they are asking for. Find a price you feel fitting for the item, then take off $5 or so dollars so you can negotiate with them to get the best price. Usually, if they won’t give you the price you are asking for and you walk away, they will agree to almost any price.
After a long day in the 90 sum degree sun, we headed back to the ship to get ready for dinner with a large group of my friends for one of my friend’s birthdays.
We went to a restaurant called “Noir”. This was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. In this dining experience, you eat as if you are blind. Along with this all of the workers are blind as well. When you arrive you are greeted with a small drink and then get a blindfold where you are instructed to put a puzzle of shapes together. It was quite hard to have to feel each shape and make sure it is in the right spot on the board. After this, we must choose what we eat, but there is a caught. You are able to only choose if you would like western food or eastern food. The rest is a surprise. Whichever you choose you will get four small portions of appetizers, four small main dishes, and three desserts. You are then lead into a room that is pitch black and seated at a table. When I say pitch black I mean can’t see a thing. No light source anywhere. The waiter comes with your food and will tell you what is on your plate in which place (right top, right bottom, etc.) Then time to eat up. Don’t miss your mouth! When you get out they tell you what you all ate and I was very off on many of the things. I recommend this place to everyone! The staff was so friendly and the food was great. It was such a unique experience and felt so strange not being able to see what you were putting in your mouth. They also say that when you lose your sight your other senses enhance which I thought was very interesting and I noticed that while in the darkroom my hearing and taste were enhanced for sure. It was so much fun and I would love to go back in the future.
If you are not comfortable dining in the dark you can try their sister restaurant, “Blanc”. The difference with this one is you dine as if you are deaf rather than blind. I have not been to this one so I can’t speak about the experience but it is just upstairs of Noir and something I plan to check out if I am ever back in Vietnam!
From here we went to a rooftop bar! In Ho Chi Minh City there are tons of rooftop bars so you will have no trouble finding a good one. I am not quite sure the name of the bar but it was on the roof of the “Hotel Des Arts Saigon Mgallery Collection”. It was so much fun the music was great and drinks were free for women until midnight so it made for a really cheap and fun night! I highly recommend going to a rooftop bar and checking out the city lights even if you aren’t going to do more than sit and hang out with your friends over a few drinks. It was a night to remember for sure!
I hope you enjoy Ho Chi Minh City!
See You Soon
Hẹn sớm gặp lại
xoxo Gina